You are reading a column by one of the Lions Club’s newest members.

Each full-time Post writer has joined a civic club. While I’m still working on getting the song and the pledge down pat, I have already learned a thing or two about my club: Lions support children and the arts.

In late June, two Warren Central High School students participated in the Mississippi Lions All-State Band. The band comprised of students from all over the state of Mississippi traveled to the international Lions Convention, which this year was held in Japan.

The two local students had to go through an intense audition process to trim the 800 hopefuls down to a mere 145-member band. This year’s representatives from Vicksburg were three-time band member Sarah Chipley and first year dancer Alexandria Scott.

The Vicksburg Lions supported the girls by giving them extra spending money for their trip. Member Susan Johnston said she was proud of the Mississippi band’s tradition of excellence. This year the state’s band won the parade for the fourth consecutive year giving them a total of 32 total championships.

This opportunity is great. These students work hard to achieve a goal and then enjoy the fruits of their labor by leaving home and experiencing a new culture and seeing the world outside of what they know.

I myself was a band member in high school, and even though my playing ability would never have been good enough to participate in such a well accomplished band, I would have loved to have been apart of the experience these students have had.

Another contest the Lions Club participates in is the annual Peace Poster Contest. Just like the convention and club, the poster contest is international. Students around the world ages 11 through 13 create a poster that illustrates a theme of peace to submit for competition.

The Vicksburg Lions have partnered with the River Kids Art Program at the Southern Cultural Heritage Center to use their art supplies while also donating some new supplies. The students meet for an hour and a half every day for one week with art instructor Karen Biedenharn to work on their masterpieces. The last day of the week two volunteers from the Vicksburg Art Association judge the posters and proclaim first, second and third place awards.

The three winners receive money, $75, $50 and $25 respectively, and the winner’s poster goes forward to compete in the regional contest. All posters are displayed at Vicksburg Mall.

I think it’s great that artistic education and children are a priority of the club I now belong to and I’m proud to be a Lion.

 

Alana Norris is a writer at The Vicksburg Post. Reach her at alana.norris@vicksburgpost.com.